Working roll supporting structure for four-high rolling mills



J. C. YOUNG July 14, 1959 WORKING ROLL SUPXEORTING STRUCTURE FOR FOUR-HIGH ROLLING MILLS Filed Sept. 30, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

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WORKING ROLL SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR FOUR-HIGH ROLLING MILLS Filed Sept. 30, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I l l l Flay.

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WORKING ROLL SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR FOUR-HIGH ROLLING MILLS Filed SepL. so, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 R m ma m MN. 0 Vw r my M a x m. M w w United States Patent WORKING ROLL SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR FOUR-HIGH ROLLING MILLS James C. Young, Middletown, Ohio, assignor to Armco Steel Corporation, Middletown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 30,1952, Serial No. 312,196

2 Claims. (Cl. '80-55) This invention relates to a working roll supporting structure for four-high rolling mills in connection with the rolling of very thin gauges of hard metals, such as 79% nickel, 48% nickel, silicon steels, as well as other magnetic or stainless alloys. It has lately become the practice to use four-high mills having very slender working rolls with a diameter which is extremely small in relation to the diameter of the backing rolls.

The use of such small working rolls has raised many serious problems in connection with the proper support and alignment of the working rolls.

In speaking of extremely thin gauges I mean gauges of less than .001. In such cases it has become the practice to use work rolls having a diameter from about 7 to about A with backing rolls having a diameter of some 8 in the rolling of strip 2 wide.

It is well known that in the design as outlined above the clearances and tolerances become extremely critical as distinguished from the clearances and tolerances encountered with conventional mills.

The need for lateral support and adjustment of the work rolls in relation to the axes of the back-up rolls in four-high rolling mill design has been observed in the prior art.

Bearing in mind the considerations outlined above it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for positioning the work rolls centerline accurately with respect to the plane of the centerlines of the driven backing rolls.

It is another object of the invention to accomplish the positioning of the work rolls by the initial design and construction of the work roll housing or holder.

It is an ancillary object of the invention to provide for a construction whereby the work rolls can readily be changed without the necessity for realigning them individually.

These and other objects of the invention which I shall point out in more detail hereinafter, or which will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts, of which I shall now describe a number of exemplary embodiments.

Reference is made to the drawings fonning a part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view through a four-high rolling mill showing an application of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross section view taken on a line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modification;

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Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing another modification;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view through a typical four-high mill showing another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on a line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a modification;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing another modification;

Figure 9 is a plan view taken on a line 9-9 of Figure 10 showing a modification of the invention;

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view thereof;

Figure 11 is a plan view of a working roll housing showing a modification;

Figure 12 is a side elevational View of the same;

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view of the same taken on a line 1313 of Figure 12;

Figure 13a is a view similar to Figure 13 showing housings for neck type rolls instead of cylindrical rolls;

Figure 14 is a plan view of another modification, and;

Figure 15 is a cross sectional view taken on a line 1515 of Figure 14.

Briefly, in the practice of the invention I provide a working roll housing disposed between the backing rolls and having a slot therein which is elongated and parallel to the plane of the axes of the backing rolls. This slot has longitudinal walls which are preferably exactly parallel to said plane and end walls preferably exactly normal to said plane. Within this slot 1 provide supporting or guiding means for a working roll, said supporting means fitting snugly in the slot and having guiding walls for the roll which are exactly parallel to said plane. In this Way the work roll and its supporting means may be removed, and another work roll together with a supporting means, inserted in its place. It will be understood that a single working roll with a supporting means will be used in a three-high mill, while two working rolls with supporting means will be used in a four-high mill.

Referring first to Figures 1-4 inclusive, I have shown fragments of a mill having backing rolls 10 and 11, and working rolls 12 and 13. The members 14, 15, 16 and 17 represent the roll housing of the mill. The supporting or guiding means for the working rolls are indicated at 20 and 21. These may, of course, be similar except for a reverse position so as to accommodate the curvature of the respective backing rolls. Alternatively they may be square with sufficient clearance provided for the backing rolls.

The contact between each housing means and its associated roll guiding or supporting means, such as 14 and 20, has been illustrated as planar, said plane being parallel to the plane of the backing roll axes. While this construction is preferred, it is not a necessary limitation as any type of supporting contact will be efiective as long as the inner faces of the roll guiding or supporting means are positioned so that they are parallel to the axes of the backing rolls.

In Figures 2, 3 and 4, I have shown details of the supporting means. Thus, in Figure 2 the working roll 13 is of the essentially cylindrical type, and the supporting means comprises a guide element 21 of which the size is such that the workingroll 13 fits snugly therein with no end play and no lateral play. The guide element 21 is preferably made of a bearing material such as bronze or tungsten carbide so as to resist wear and yet form a good bearing surface for positioning the work rolls with respect to the driven backing rolls. It will be observed that the structure 21 takes up not only the lateral thrust but also the end thrust of the work roll.

In Figure 3, I have shown a similar arrangement where the guide member for the work roll is constituted of two pieces 21a and 21b. The piece 21a provides support for one side of the work roll and the two ends thereof, while the pie'c'e"21b provides support for the other side.

In Figure 4, I have shown another modification wherein 'a piece 21c supports the Work roll on one side, and a piece 21d supports it on the other side. In this instance the end thrust is taken up by pieces 21e and'21f which interfit with the pieces 21c and 21d. Thus, it will be apparent that the number of pieces constituting the member 21 is immaterial, but the important point is that the member 21, whatever its form, is arranged to take up lateral and end thrusts of the work roll and to fit snugly in the slot constituted by the elements '14, 16 or 15, 17, as the case may be.

The details of the members 14, 15, 16 and 17 will be discussed more hereinafter, and as will become clear they may be ofvarious forms, sometimes in one piece and sometimes in several pieces.

In Figures 5-8 inclusive, I have shown an arrangement wherein working rolls with necks are being used Wherein the working rolls are somewhat larger than the rolls 13. Again the backing rolls in Figure 5 are indicated at and 11, and the roll housings at 14, 15, 16 and 17. The working rolls are designated by the numerals 22 and 23. By reference to Figures 68 inclusive, it will be observed that no lateral support is provided for the roll 23 over its working surface, but that it does fit with some clearance in the slot between the members 14, 16 or 15, 17, as the case may be. In Figure 6, I have shown an end structure including the guide pieces 24 which constitute journals for the necks 23a of the roll 23. End thrust is taken up by end plates 25. In Figure 7 there is a slight modification in that the end plates 25 are omitted, and the inner edges of the members 24 constitute bearing surfaces for the shoulders of the work roll as indicated at 26. An oil hole is provided at 27.

In Figure 8 another modification is shown wherein the end thrust is taken up indirectly by end plates 2511 through the intermediary of ball bearings 28 which seat in conical recesses 29 in the necks 23 of the working rolls.

It will be clear that the modifications of Figures 6, 7 and 8 are simply different ways of doing substantially the same thing, that is, to provide means to serve as bearings and guide means for the necks of working rolls, and at the same time to take up the end thrusts thereof.

An important advantage of the construction disclosed in connection with Figures l-8 inclusive is that the working rolls and their supporting means can be removed and reinserted or replaced without the necessity of realigning them each time. Similarly if the rolls become worn and have to be reground, whereby their diameter is reduced, new guide elements 20 and 21 may be provided of the proper dimension, and they may be inserted in the housings without the need for realignment.

In Figures 9-15 inclusive, I have shown different arrangements to constitute slots for holding either the guide elements 20, 21 or the neck bearing guide elements 24. Thus, in Figures 9 and 10 the lower working roll 13 is held in place in a slot in the member 30 constituting a roll housing means attached to the mill frame. The upper work roll 12 is held in a slot constituted by the plates 32 and 33 which are bolted to the member 30 as clearly shown in the drawing. Pins 32a insure proper alignment of these plates. The plates 32 and 33 may have bearing metal inserts, or they may be made of were e bronze themselves. The member 32 has a three-sided guide element, and the member 33 is complementary thereto to complete the guide slot. In order to change the rolls the plates 32 and 33 are simply unbolted, and the rolls 12 and 13 may then be lifted out. When new rolls are inserted the plates 32 and 33 are bolted back in place and the original alignment is attained again. This may all be done with a strip in the mill since releasing pressure on the backing roll will provide sufficient clearance.

In Figues 1l-13a inclusive, I have shown an arrangement whereby the rolls and their supporting elements can be inserted and removed laterally whereby rolls may also be changed without breaking the strip. According to this embodiment the working rolls 12 and 13 are held in the guide elements 21, which in turn are mounted in upper and lower elements 40 and 41 of a plate 42. The plate 42 is secured to members '43 which may be bolted or suitably secured to the mill frame. When it is desired to change rolls the members 43 are unbolted and the entire element shown in Figures 11-13 is withdrawn toward the left, as seen in Figures 11 and 12. The work rolls 12 and 13 and the elements 21 may then be changed. When neck type work rolls are to be substituted a drawer member similar to the member 42 may be inserted, having the parts 40;: and 41a, in which the rolls 22 and 23 and their guide elements 24 may be seated, as shown in Figure 13a.

In this manner it is possible in a driven mill to initially roll the material with working rolls of a conventional type having necks (these rolls having a diameter perhaps between and 1") since it is considered more desirable to reduce the heavier gauge from .006" down to .001" with rolls of this type. From .001" on down the rolls of the type of rolls 13 are more desirable, and it is therefore very simple to remove the entire drawer assembly illustrated in Figure 13a and substitute a drawer assembly as illustrated in Figure 13 having the smaller cylindrical rolls 13 with their associated guides 21. The substitution may be made quickly and without having to realign the work rolls with respect to the backing rolls.

In Figures 14 and 15, I have shown another scheme wherein the rolls may be changed when there is a strip in the mill. Here the lower" roll 13 is supported in a slot in the member 44, which is secured to the mill frame. The upper roll 12 is supported in a slot in a plate 45 which is secured to the member 44 by means of a pin or the like, as indicated at 46. When it is desired to change the work rolls the pin 46 may be removed and the plate 45 withdrawn and then the lower roll 13 may be changed.

While I have shown a considerable number of minor modifications and variations, there are certainly other modifications which may be' made without departing fi'om the spirit of the invention. 1 therefore do not intend to limit myself otherwise than as set forth in the claims which follow.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and'desire to secure by Letter Patent is:

1. In a mill for rolling metallic alloys which are hard to reduce, and wherein a working roll 'is of very small diameter in relation to the backing roll, a working roll housing disposed between the backing rolls, said housing having a slot providing inner vertical walls which are exactly parallel to the axes of the backing rolls, and supporting means for a working roll providing outer parallel vertical walls and fitting snugly within said slot, and accurately positioned by the cooperative engagement of said vertical walls, said supporting means having a slot of a size to receive a work roll and providing inner work roll guiding walls which are exactly parallel to said first named walls and which engage, and provide lateral support for the working surface of said working roll, and a working roll supported in said supporting means by said inner work roll guiding walls, whereby said working roll may be lifted vertically out of said supporting means, and said References Cited in the file of this patent supporting means may be lifted vertically out of said working roll housing for roll changes. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said work- 739,160 Faessler Sept. 15, 1903 ing roll is essentially cylindrical in form and said support- 5 1,6 1,23 Slick Mar. 15, 1927 ing means comprises a substantial rectangular frame fit- ,892,933 Coryell Jan. 3, 1933 ting snugly in said first named slot, said working roll fit- 2,058,717 Paterson 'Oct. 27, 1936 ting snugly in said frame, whereby said frame bears 2,181,173 catulle Nov. 28, 1939 against opposite sides of and along the entire length of said ,288,564 Gales June 30, 1942 working roll, said frame thus taking up the lateral and 10 2,40 ,236 Banker Oct. 15, 1946 2,770,869 Harley Nov. 20, 1956 end thrust of the working roll. 

